Hiking through the Sunken Forest at Sailors Haven
on Fire Island, New York
Several of us in the Mathematics Ph.D. Program have organized another all-day community event on Friday, July 25th when we will travel to the Sunken Forest at Sailors Haven on Fire Island, New York.
This trip offers the opportunity to sun on a pristine ocean beach and/or walk through a shady, cool forest.
Sailors Haven, located near the center of Fire Island, across the Great South Bay from Sayville, Long Island, is home to the Sunken Forest, one of the best known areas of the Fire Island National Seashore. This unique area is one of the last remaining maritime forests on the eastern seaboard. It earned its name because it appears lower than the surrounding water. The forest is not actually below sea level -- the high surrounding sand dunes that protect this environment create the illusion of being lower than sea level. The Sunken Forest spans approximately 40 acres, so there is plenty to see. You can walk for miles up and down the roller coaster boardwalks that carry you over two rows of sand dunes. The Sunken Forest consists primarily of American holly, sassafras, and shadblow. Some trees are estimated to be well over 200 years old. This naturally preserved wilderness is abundant with hardwood groves, dunes, swamps, and marshland. Serious hikers, bird watchers, and ecologists find this part of the island absolutely fascinating. With several ecosystems, there is plenty of diversity in the flora and wildlife.
In addition to the boardwalk trail through the Sunken Forest, Sailors Haven also offers a visitor center, snack bar, giftshop, picnic tables, lifeguarded beach, a 42-slip marina, restrooms and a bathhouse.
We will walk along the one-and-a-half-mile long boardwalk trail through the Sunken Forrest. Those who prefer can swim or sunbath on the beach off of the Atlantic Ocean on the south side of the island.
NOTE: We recommend that you put on some insect repellant before you leave. We will also bring some with us that you can spray on if necessary. Regarding food, Sailors Haven has a snack bar but the menu is limited. We recommend that you bring along food with you for the trip, such as a sandwich, bottled water or juice, trail mix, etc.
DIRECTIONS: Buy your ticket at one of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) ticket windows on the lower level of Penn Station (7th – 8th Aves., 32nd – 33rd Sts.). The cost is $21 which includes a round-trip train ticket to Sayville, a Colonial taxi to the Sailors Haven Ferry Terminal (and the return trip), and a round-trip ferry ticket from Sayville to Sailors Haven, Fire Island. [The ferry ride takes about 35 minutes.] Ask for the “Sunken Forest package” when you purchase your ticket. [NOTE: the ticket windows only take cash or check. If you want to pay by credit card, you can use one of the LIRR ticket machines near the ticket windows; look on the screen under “beach getaways.”] After buying your ticket, meet us at 8:45 a.m. by the four ticket machines just to the left of the LIRR ticket windows. [This is opposite the last store - - a pretzel store – in a row of food shops.] We will catch the 9:04 a.m. train for Sayville, L.I., scheduled to arrive at Sayville at 10:53 a.m. [NOTE: If you prefer, you can catch this same train at the Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn LIRR station at 9:07 a.m., or at the Jamaica, Queens LIRR station at 9:28 a.m. (from Jamaica the cost is $18.50.)]
For the return trip, we are planning to return from Sailors Haven on the 4:00 p.m. ferry and then catch the 5:37 pm train from Sayville to Penn Station, arriving back in the city at 7:04 p.m. We should have close to an hour to look around in Saybrook before our train arrives. [NOTE: If you wish to stay later you can catch the 5:30 ferry, then take the 6:39 p.m. LIRR train from Sayville to Penn Station, arriving at 8:27 p.m.] [FYI, the Sayville Ferry Service is at 41 River Road; phone: 631-589-0810.]
If you would like to join the GC group: please email your name and program affiliation to mathematics@gc.cuny.edu and we will add you to the list. [NOTE: You might want to print out these instructions.] Your guests are also welcome!
NOTE: The trip will be on, regardless of the weather, unless bad thunderstorms are predicted for the afternoon.
We hope that you will be able to join us for this pleasant one-day summer getaway.